Sheet-feeding mechanism



1 9 1 1- w. M. KELLY 1,787,532

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 12, 1927' 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan.-6, 1931.

w. M. KELLY 1,78%;532

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.'l2, 1927 gwvanto'c Jan. 6, 1931. v I w, KELLY 1 1,787,532-

SH-EET FEEDING MECHANI SM Jan. 6, 1931 w. M. KELLY SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM 1o Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 12, 1927 art arm Jan. 6, 1931. w. M! KEI I Y 1,787,532

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 12', 1927 1o Sheets-Sheet '7 Jan. 6, 1931. w@ M. KELLY SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 12, 1927 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Jan. 6. 1931' w. M. KELLY SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 12, 1927 10 s ee 's-sheet 1o w M MM W 6 E a g w W. m\& m

Pater: d Jan. 6, 1931 sheet feeding mechanism 'adapted for use I umren er-Ares PA E T e rm WILLIAM rt.- KELLY, or wEsrrI ELD, NEW JERSEY, nssrenon 'ro m ss on: TYPE FOUNDERS COMPANY, or unisex CITY, NEW messy, A. conronarron or NEW JERSEY sn'mirqrnnnme nncnamsrt Appllcationiflled lannal'y 12,.f92't. serial 1%. 160,704.

The present invention relates to sheet feeding. mechanism,' and more particularly to with printingpressesof the bed and cylinder-type; y

The principal objects ofthe invention are tonrovide: v An improved blast nozzle for winding and separating the front edges of the sheets, and

in association therewith separator fingers of novel construction and adjustability .-An improved suction sheet feeder for lifting, sheets singly from a pile and forwarding them to suitable conveyor mechanism;

Slow down fingers of :novel constructionand operation mounted over the forward end of the-feed board for checking the velocity of the 'sheetsand registering them against the front stops; I

Sheet detector-mechanism controlling both thei-mpression and the suction: feeder in combination withmanual means for preventing the operation of thedetctor mechanism, whereby the adjustment of the feeder for double rolling is simplifiedand facilitated;

Improved mechanism for interrupting the feeding of ink when the'impressionoperating means is tripped, to, prevent an excess accumulation of ink on the form.

Other objects and, features of novelty of the invention will be apparent from the de scriptiontaken in-connection with the drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation offlone side'of the" feeder and :of apportion of the press;

FlgLlIG'Q is alview of the opposite side; I Figure 3 is aplan .view of the feeder; j

' Figure 4 is a rear elevation Figures 5, 6 and Tare vertical. sections re-,

spectively, on lines 5 5,- 6-;6 andT-Tof Figure -8-is a plan'view of the mechanism shownin Fig. 7; i

a plan view, a front elevation and a side ele M vation of the blast nozzle plate; Figure 11"is' a. vertical section on line 11'11-0Fig.,10

Figure 12 is a top plan view of the suction feeder;

Figure 13 is a vertical section Online 13 13 of Fig.:' 12;

Figure 14 is a bottom plan view of the suction feeder;

Figure 15 is a section on line 15-4551 Fig. 14;

Figure 17 is a detailed View, showing the arm 216 in its-raised position.

Figure '16 is a section on line 16-- 16 of i Fig. 1.5; and

Figure 18 is adetailof the trip mechanism for maintaining the'level of the feed pile subst'antially constant. R fer-ring to Figs. 1 and 2 ed in side members 10 secured to'- the main of the drawing; .the impression cylinder A, the'inking,mecha- .nism B and other parts not shown aremo'unt- 12 and 13 bolted to the top side flanges of the" main frame '11 andextending vertically to an elevation substantially greaterthan'the height of the cylinder, 1 V v .The'operating connections for the feeder are shown more particularly in F igs. l'and' 4. Referring thereto, a short counterv shaft 14 is mountedin abracket l5 bcltedtothe main frame '11. Secured to one end of this shaft is a sprocket 16 driven by-a chain 17.

n which passesaround a sprocket Wheel (not shown) on' one of the operating-shafts-of the press. Secured to the other end of shaft 14 is a small sprocket wheel19 which is 'con in.

nected'to a sprocket wheel 20.011 a shaft 21 by a chain-22. Shaft 21 extends acrossth'e .feeder and is journaled atits; endsin side castings 12 and" 1 3. The right hand end of shaft 21 projects on the outside of casting 12 and carries a gear 23 which drives a gear 24 through a pair of idlers 25 and 26. ear 24 is fixed on a cam shaft 27 journaled in bearnear' the topthereof.

"lhe sheet pile S is carried on a lift table ings formed in'the side castings 12 and 13 The pile is maintained in correct positransverse slots 36 in the table and have secured to their upper ends rearwardly extending bars 37 on which the end guides 32 are 'ad ustably mounted.

- Table 28 is supported on abracket 38 to which is bolted the upper end of a rack bar 39 guided for vertical movement in a bracket 40. The upper end of bracket 40 engages under. the square tie bar 33 and is bolted thereto. The bracket has a cover 41 and is additionally supported by screws 41 which pass through the tie bar 35 and the cover 41.

Meshing with rack 39- is a pinion 42 on a shaft 43-journaled in bracket 40 and in side casting 13. Shaft 43 carries a pinion 45-in mesh with a gear 46 on a short shaft 47 mounted in side casting 13 and extending on the outside thereof. Secured on shaft 47 on the outside of the frame is a ratchet Wheel 48 and a handle 49. Rotatable on shaft 47,

between a. collar 50 and ratchet 48, is a three arm lever 51, (Fig. 2) the center arm'of which carries a driving pawl 52 for ratchet wheel 48. One of the outer arms of this lever is substantially vertical and has fixed on its end a laterally projecting pin53 which is hemispherical in cross section with its plane face disposed vertically. .The end of a trip arm 54, pivoted at 55, is adapted to have its lower face rest on pin 53, the arm being pro vided with a shoulder 54 engaging the plane face of the pin when the under face of the arm rests on the pin. Pivotedlto trip 54 is the lower end of a link 56 the upper end of which is pivoted to'an arm 57 rigid on a longitudinally extending shaft 58 journaled in a bracket 59. Adjustable longitudinally on shaft 58 is an arm 60 which extends transversely -over the table 28 and'carries at its end a feeler 61 resting on the top of the sheet pile. The arm is secured in adjusted position on shaft 58 by a set screw 60; The remain ing arm of the three arm lever 51 is pivoted to the lower end of a link 62, the upper end of which is slotted and has working therein a crank pin 63 projecting from a disk secured to the left hand end of shaft 27.

The mechanism described serves automatically to maintain the level of the sheet 1 pile within predetermined narrow limits. When the level of the pile is within the predetermined limits, the shoulder on trip54 engages pin 53 and prevents rotation of the three arm lever 51 in a counter-clockwise memes be'raised sufficiently to disengage the trip 54 from the pin 53, whereupon the three arm lever 51 will rotate counter-clockwise when crank pin 63 is rotating downwardly, and when the crank pin rotatesupwardly, the three arm lever will be rotated clockwise by link 62 and through pawl 52 will rotate ratchet .48 to rack up-the table and bring the level of the pil within the predetermined limits. Thus the level of the sheet pile will be maintained within narrow limits, or substantially constant.

The forward edges of thetop sheets are raised, preparatory to feeding the sheets forwardlyoverthe feed table, by air blasts delivered by a'blast nozzle, the details of which are illustrated in Figs. 10, 11, 10a, 10b, and

.100. Referring to these views and to Fig. 5,

a blast mouthpiece 64 is secured to the central portion of tie bar 34 byscrews '65. This mouthpiece is'forme'd with a bore opening through the bottom and having secured there in a pipe 66 connected to the pressure-side of a suitable air pump (not shown). The

bore opens upwardly into a chamber 67 which extends by diverging branches, progressively decreasing incross sectional area, to a plate 68 attached to the mouthpiece by a screw 69.

The top of the mouthpiece is plane and a cover 70 is secured thereon.

As shown in the detail views, Figs. 10a, 106 and 106, the v plate 68 has beveled sides whiohsfit correspondingly inclined surfaces formed in mouthpiece 64, and the beveled sides are formed with a number of small slots 71, three slots being shown on each sideof the plate.

These slots are about j gth of an inch wide and .1/64th of an inch deep, and it will be understood that they are adaptedto deliver three jets of air at each side of the mouthpiece. directed at an angle to the central vertical plane corresponding to the angle of inclination of theedges of plate 68. These small jets delivered at an angle against the front edges of the sheets serve very effectively for all kinds of stock to wind the sheets. In addition to these angularly directed jets, the nozzle is adapted to deliver two sheet-like jets above the winding'jets, which serve to'separate the top sheets. For this pur ose a shallow notch 72 is formed in the top of plate 68 at each side. The notches 72 progressively decrease in depth towards the front, their depth at the front being about 1/64th of an inch, their. Width beingu'giform and about 4th of an inch.

Separator fingers .7 3 serve to prevent more than one sheet being raised and forwarded by the feeding device described hereinafter. Two fingers are shown, each being pivoted on a pin 74 projecting from the side of the nozzle.. For adjusting the separator fingers to project them more or less, according to the kind of stock being operated on, there is provided a rod 75 which is rotatable in a horizontal bore formed through the solid' por tion of, the nozzle. This rod is hemispherical in cross section wherefit passes through the nozzleandthe tail ends of fingers 73 rest on the edge of the rod by gravity. From an inspection of Fig. 11 it will be apparent that by turning rod 75 in one direction or the other, the fingers will be retracted or pro-.

jected from the nozzle. The rod 75 extends throughside casting 13 (Fig. 2) and carries on its end'a handle76 and a slotted sector 77 engaged'by a clamping screw 78, wherebythe separator fingers may be adjusted. from the outside and held in adjusted positions.

The top 70" of theblast nozzle projects through cut away portions of a pair of guide 'pl'ate's80, which bridgethe space between the forward edge of the sheet pile and the delivery table (Figs. and 6). The rear-down- I turned ends of these plates rest ontie bar 34 and are held from displacement by stops 80 v secured to the rear face of the tie bar.

The top .sheet is lifted and'buckled, or

snapped, by the separator fin ers or detents i 73 andfediforward 'bly a suct1on feeder, the

details of which are s own in Figs; 12 to 15,

s the fingersacting to prevent the second sheet 1 85 extend through thebottomof the housing,

' rigidly connected at their rear'endsby atie forming elongated slots therein. Bolted 'to' the rear side of the housing is a cover- 86 1 formed with a bore opening through the top in which issecured a pipe 87 connectedby a hose 88 to. asuction valve housing 89. The bore in cover 86 opens throughports 90 and 91 into the chamber 81. Slidable in chamber 81 is a valve block 92 and slidable in a vertical bore in this valve block is a tube 93 closedat, .its upper end and extending at its lower portion through a bore in thebottom of housing 80. A slot 9 1.through the wall of valve bloc 92. communicates on one side with port 90 and on the other side withla slot 95. through the 'wall of .tube 93. Two'suction plates 96 are'slidably mountedon the under face. of-

' housing 80, one plate being mounted at each side and guided by a gib-97 secured to the. side of housing 80. The two suction plates 96 are -plate98. The suction plates cover the elonshaped chambers 85, and each plate has a gated openings in the bottom of the housin formed by the horizontal portions of the L- hole 96 therethrough which communicates with the elongated opening. The suction plates 96are reciprocated bya'n elbow lever a 99 pivoted in the upper end of a lug 100 pro jecting Y forwardly from housing 80.- The downwardly extending armof lever 99 terfmma'tes in aroundedend which engagesbetween two upstanding lugs'.101 'on a plate secured to the top. face of one of the suction plates 96 (Fig. 16):, gThe forwardlyiextending arm of lever 99 carries a roller 102 engaging a cam 103'fixed on shaft 27 (Fig. 5).

Roller 102 is held engaged with the cam by a spring 104 secu-red at its ends respectively tothe de endin arm ofllever 99 and tohous- 'ing-SO; alve loc-k- 92 isreciprocated by a lever 105 pivoted on lug 100 at a point below the .pivotoflever 99. ,One'arm of lever105 hasa forked end which engages a pin 106 secured ,to valve block 92'and projecting therefrom laterally through a vertical slot in housing 80: The other arm of lever 105 I I carries a roller 107 engaging .a cam '108 on shaft 27," the roller being held engaged with the cam b a spring 109 secured at its ends respective y to the, first mentioned'arm of lever and to a pin on tie bar 7 9.

The suction-valve housing 89 is formed with an integral plate 110 which is screwed to the inside of frame; casting '13, I Suction is produced in this housing throughaj'pipe 111 which isconnected to the suction side .of the pump, and thesuction is communicated through a pipe 112 and hose 88 to thesuction feeder The suction is controlled by a disk valve 113 on theend of a lever 11 1 fulcrumed on a stud 115 projecting from the inside of the frame. The otherarm of lever 114 car ries a roller 116 engaging acam 117 fixed on shaft 27, the roller being held engaged with 5 the cam bya spring 118. When roller 116 engages the high part of cam 117, 'valve 113. is held raised from a valve seat on housing 7 89 and the interior of the housing is open to the atmosphere, but when the roller engages the low part of the cam, valve;113,may be seated over the opening in housing89, in l which case suction is communicatedto the feeder;

' In the regular, or normal operation, a

sheet is lifted by suction tube 93 and for-- warded by the suction plates 96 at each revolution of the cam shaft 27. From an inspection of'FigQb it will be observed that roller 107 on lever 105 is engaging the high part of cam 108, so that valve block 92 and suction tube 93 are in-their raised position. The

suction tube 98 was carried to this, position with valve block 92 by the engagement of a laterally projecting pin 119 onthe suction tube with the'top of the valve. block, a spring 120operating to .hold the pin engaged with Xthe block. It will-be furtherobserved that" roller 102 on lever 99 engages the low part of cam103, so that suction plates 96 are in their rearmost position; and that roller 116 on valve lever 114 engages the high part of cam 117, so that valve 113 is raised and conse quently there is no suction at the feeder.

When shaft 27 has rotated in a counterclockwise direction, about 60 from the position shown in Fig. 5, roller-107 on lever 105 will be on the low part of cam 108 and the valve block 92 and suction tube 93 will be in their lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 13. In.

Arm 121 is mounted in a vertical socket in housing 80 and is adapted to be held at adjusted positions by a set screw 121 (Fig.

Roller 116 on valve lever 114 is now engaging the low part of cam 117 and valve 113 is seated, whereb suction is communicated to tube 93, throug hose 88, port 90 and slots 94 1nd 95 of the valve and tube respectively.

This suction causes the top sheet to adhere to the bottom of tube 93 and when the tube is I ance of the upward travel.

lifted to the position shown in Fig. 5, the

sheet is raised against the lower faces of the suction plates 96. The valve 92 andtube 93 are in their lower positions for only a short interval, as the low part of cam 108 extends through a small angle. In moving from their lowerpositions, the valve block 92 is first raised until the top of the block engages the pin 119 on the-suction tube, whereupon the tube and block move together for the balupper position the lower end of valve block 92uncovers port 91 (see Fig. 5), so that suction is communicated to the chamber 82 and the L-shaped chambers 85 and then to the holes 96 in the suction plates, and port 90 is covered by valve block 92, thereby cutting off suction in the tube 93. On further revolution of shaft 27, roller 102 onlever 99 rides up on the-high part ofcam 103, and the lever moves the suction lates 96 forward with the sheet adherin t ereto. Roller 116 will shortly therea ter ride onto the high-part of cam 117, causing the suction valve 113 to rise from its seat and break the suction, releasing the sheet which is now engaged by'the conveyor tapes.

The sheet in passing to the delivery tapes goes .through acaliperingdevic'e, the function of which is to prevent the passage of Thiscalipering deviceis illustrated in Figs. 5, 12, 13 and .14. It consists of a pivoted tongue 122 the lower edge of which is convexly curved and cooperates with the top 7 O of the blast nozzle to form an adjustable throat which prevents the Passage of more than one sheet at a time. The tongue 122 is pivoted in the slotted end of a bracket 123 screwed to the under face of feeder hpusing 80, the side edges of the bracket engaging the inner edges of the suc-. tion plates 96 and cooperatin with the gibs 97 to guide the suction plates Fig. 14). The

In passing to its bracket tends to move the tongue 122 counter-clockwise (Fig. 13)

the lower face of the tongue and the top surface of cover may be contracted or en larged, to accord with the kind of stock being separated and fed.

Thefeed board 125 is trunnioned at 126 (Figs. 1 and 6) in the side castings 12 and 13 and rests at its forward end on screws 127 mounted in lugs 128 of the cylinder housing (Fig.1). The screws 127 may be locked in adjusted positions by set screws 129. sheets are conveyed over the board by a pair of tapes 130 which pass over driving pulleys 131 secured'to shaft 21 and over small idler pulleys 132 journaled in front extensions 125 of table 125 (Fig. 7). The tapes'also pass over idler rolls 133, tension rolls 134 andidler rolls 135, these rolls being carried by brackets 136 mounted on a tie rod 137 (Fig. 5).- Brackets 136 extend upwardly proper tension under the action of springs By operatingthe screw 124 in.or out, the throat defined by The 140. Presser rolls 141 engage the tapes over the idler rolls 135. and cooperate with the tapes in forwarding. the sheet from the suction device. These presser rolls are carried by arms 142 pivoted on studs 143 lifted to and prpijec)ting laterally from gibs 97 (Figs. '4 an 5 The sheets are advanced along the feed board by the tapes 130 and the cooperating rollers 144 and balls mounted in cages 145, which are carried by a pair of bars 146 secured near their rear ends to brackets 147 screwed to the under side of a tie rod .148 (Fig. 5). Tie rod 148 is part of a pivoted frame which carries detector and sheet registering mechanism in addition to the rollers 'andballs just described. This frame comprises side castings 150 pivoted at their'rear ends" on shaft 27 and formed near their forward ends with downwardly extending lugs 151 which rest on board 125. In addition to tie rod 148,this pivoted frame is strength.

No..420,290, filed August 6, 1921. Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the snap guide 154 is carried by a slidable bar 155 mounted on the extension board 125 which, as shown in Fig.

its snap guide is reciprocated by a lever arm 157 (Fig. 1) secured to and depending from a shaft 158 mounted in brackets 159 and 160 on the pivoted frame 150. Secured to therear end of shaft 158 is a depending arm 161 connected by a link 162 to the lower end of a lever 163 pivoted at 164 to a bracket-on the inside of casting 150(Fig. 4). .Theupper end of lever 163 carries a rollerengaging a cam formed on the outer face of a disk 165 secured to cam shaft 27. The snap guide is opera-ted by a forked arm 166s'ecured to a rock shaft 167'. which is journaled at its ends in the pivoted frame castings 15.0. A link 168 connects an upstanding arm 169 on shaft 167 to the lower arm of a lever 170 pivoted on tierod 152. The upper arm of lever 170 carries aroller engaging a cam 171 fixed to shaft 27 (Fig. 3). It is to be observed that these operating connections for the snap guide do not interfere with-the raising of the pivoted frame comprising side castings .150,

since this frame is pivoted on shaft 27 which carries the cams that operate the mechanism.

. The frame can be freely moved about the axis of shaft 27 and when returnedto its normalpo'sition the parts will assume their correct positions.

The sheets pass from tapes 130 to-throats,

definedby the tongues 172 and slowdown fingers 173 (Fig. 7 There are two of these tongues, ea'chassociated with a superposed slowdown finger. The rear ends of tongues 172 are adjustably supported onthe underside of extension board 125'.

On entering the throats defined by tongues 172.-and fingers 173, the sheets pass and'op-.

crate detector fingers 176 (Figs. 7 and 8). These fingers have-bifurcated lower ends which straddle the tongues and slow down fingers and are. formed near their upper F ends with lateral ears 177 pivoted at 178 to.

brackets 179 mounted on a rock shaft,180. These brackets are split and areadapted to be clamped on the rock shaft 180 by thumb screws 181, so. that the brackets may be Ell held at any desired position on the shaft.

Each of the detector fingers has an inwardly bent portion, or detent, 182 between its forks, these detents normally engaging under the square corner of ai-bar 183 extending between and secured to the extremities of the.

side castings 150. It will be observed that when the detents engage the corner of bar 183, rock shaft 180 is locked from rotation in, a counterclockwise direction, looking at' "Fig. 7. When a sheet passesthe detector fingers, the latter.- are knocked forwardly about their pivot points, removing the detents 182 from the cornerv of bar 183 and permitting the shaft 180 to be rocked in a counterclockwise direction.

Secured "to the rock shaft 180 is anjupstanding arm 184 connected by a link 185 to a lever arm 186 pivoted on tie rod 148. j

Refeiiring' particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, the upper end of lever arm 186 carries a roller 187 adapted to engage a caln 189 fixed on cam shaft "27. Rigid with lever arm' 186 is an arm 190 to which is secured one end of a spring 190*, the other end of which is attached to apin 191 on sidecasting 150, thespring tending tov hold the roller 187 agalnst'the .cam 189. Also rigid with arm 186 is an arm 192 having fixed on' its end a' laterally projecting pin 193 which engages over the end of a pivoted latch 19.4. Latch 194 has a tooth 195 adapted to engage an extension 196 on the lower end of valve lever 114' when the valve is in its open position.

- Thus when the valve is opened .by the operation of cam 117 'onroller 116 of the valve Latch 194 is through a circular aperture 199 in casting I 150 is "a pm 199, the outer end of which is adapted to engage the upper arm of a lever 200 pivoted in a forwardly projecting lug 201 of casting 13 (Fig. 2). Fixed to the lower end of lever 200 is a laterally projecting pin 202 adapted to engage a pawl 203 carried by a lever'204, which is pivoted at 205. Lever 204 carriesaroller 206 engaging a cam 207 fixed on camshaft 27, a spring 208 holding the roller against the cam. When-roller 206 is on the low part of cam 207, .pawl 203, is adapted to engage a shoulder on the upper end of a rod :209 slidable in a, guide 210 on the feeder frame. Pivoted to the lower end of rod 209 is one arm of a lever 210 the other arm of which is connected by a link 211 to trip-mechanism (not shown) for disconnecting the impression operating means. 209 is a depending dog 212 rigid with a sec- Pivoted near the lower end of rod tor 213. When rod 209 is moved down,thc

lower end of dog 212 is adapted toengage a plunger 214 which operates suitable switch mechanism for disconnecting the moto that drives the press and feeder. Frictionally mounted on rod 209 near the upper end thereof is a collar 215 on which ispivoted an arm 216 normally occupying the down position shown in Fig. 2, but when thrown up being adapted to be engaged by pawl 203. Depending from collar 215 is a rod 217 having a laterallyprojecting pin 218 at its lower end adapted to engage the curved edge of sector- 213 and thereby move the arm 212 away from its operative position over plunger 214. i

-. Under normal operating conditions, when the rotation of cam 189 brings the lower part thereof Opposite roller 187' on lever 186, a sheet is in engagement with the detector fingers 176 and has rotated these fingers sothat the detents 182 are out of engagement with bar 183. There is also a sheet entering on the board, that is, in addition to the sheet at the detectors, a second sheet has just been fed from the pile so that the detector fingers ,control the feeding of the second following sheet. Hence shaft 180 is free to rock and permits the roller to pass from the-high to the low part 'of the cam. When the roller passes from the high to the low part of the earn, lever 186 rocks and the pin 199 thereon engages the upper end of lever 200and causes the pin 202 on the lower endto strike the pawl 203 and move it out of alignment with rod gagement with the extension 196 of valve 209, so that when the subsequent downward movement of lever 204, under the action of cam 207, occurs, the pawlwill not push down rod 209 tocause the impression to be held off and the press" and feeder to be stopped. WVhen the lever 186 rocks under these normal conditions, the arm 192 rigid therewith moves down and removes the latch 194 from en- 199 on lever 186 will not operate lever 200 to move pawl 203 out of alignment with rodv 209, and when lever 204 is moved downwardly pawl 203 will engage the shoulder on the upper end of rod 209 and move the rod downwardly, tripping the impression and, if dog 212 has not been manually swung to its inoperative position, stopping the press and feeder. Moreover, latch 194 will hold valve 113 open to render the suction feeder inoperative.

WVhen it is desired to double roll, or double ink, the form for each sheet printed, the-operator merely has to turn up the arm 216 and then lift the latch handle 198 for one sheet, to cause the suction feeder to omit feeding a sheet, whereupon without further attention the mechanism will operate to feed a sheet only atevery other cycle, or alternate cycles, of the press, and to hold off the impression during the alternate cycles when there is no sheet on the cylinder, thereby effecting a double inking of the form for each sheet printed. The presentdevices for accomplishing this result form a modification of the invention described in my Patent No.

1,469,515, granted October 2, 1923.

It should be borne in mind, that in the normal operation of the press the detectors control the feeding of the second subsequent sheet. In other words, if the sheet at the detectors is designated'as A, there is a sec- 0nd sheet that may be designated B just delivered from the feeder, and the detectors have been tripped by the sheet A so that the third sheet, which may be designated C, will be fed.- If sheet A had nottripped the detectors, sheet C, that is the second sheet after A, would" not be fed. In double rolling, after the'arm 216 has been raised to the position shown in Fig. 17, the passage of the first sheet, that is A, will trip the detector fingers and permit pin 202 on lever 200 to move pawl 203 so that when lever 204 is rocked downwardly, pawl 203 will push down on arm 216 and slide down the collar 215 with its rod 217, causing pin 218'to engage the curved edge of the sector 213 and move arm 212 from its operative position over switch plunger 214. The operator, by holding down on latch arm 198,,has prevented the latch 194 from being released by the detector mechanism, and has held valve 113 open so that a sheet feeding operation was missed. The absence of this sheet, namely sheet B, when due at the detector fingers, will cause the impression operating means to be tripped, that is to say, the pawl 203 will push down on rod 209, thereby actuating link 211 and holding the impression ofi. The arm 212, during the downward movement of rod 209, is held out of engagement with the switch plunger 214 in the manner already described. In its .downward movement the rod 209 starts to carry rod 217 and its attached parts with it, but the lug on arm 216 strikes the bracket 210, thus preventing movement of the rod 217, whereupon the continued movement of rod 209 results in sliding rod 217 and arms 216 back to their upper positions on the rod 209. Thereafter the u ward movement of rod 209 carries with ltthe friction collar 215, rod 217 and arm 216, so that at the end of the upward movement of rod 209,-theparts are in the position indicated in Fig. 17. It will be understood that the weight of the parts operated by the link 211 is suflicient to return rod 209 and the other parts to their upper positions, but to make this apparent from the drawings,.l have shown a spring 211*. The feeding of sheet C now takes place and the cycle of. operations just described is repeated. It is seen that by making the press miss one feeding operation, thereafter it will continue to miss every second feeding operation. Even when operating in this manner, if a sheet is missing at the detectors when due, the press will be stopped by arm 212 pressing down on the switch plunger 214. The mechanism just described is such that the' arm 212 is held out of operative position when the normally second sheet, that is sheet B, is absent, but is returned to operative position for either sheets A or C,

' that is for every second feeding operation.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, the slow down finger 173 is pivoted at' 220 in a channel 1 formed in the bottom side of bracket 179.

, A spring 221 seated in asocket in the bracket presses at itsylower end on finger 173 at a point in front of the pivot 220, so that the front end of the finger is yieldingly held down onvthe tongue 172.. The tail end 173d of the finger is curved upwardly and is engaged by the end of a screw 222 threaded in bracket 179. 'Whenjthe shaft 180' is rotated counter-clockwise, looking at Fig. 7, which it does immediately after the forward edge of a sheet passes the detector finger 176, the slow down finger 173 will be given firsta longitudinal movement, during which its front end is pressed against the tongue 172 by spring 221,5and then when the rotary movement of the shaft hasbrought the end of screw 222"against the tail end 173a of the finger, relative movement between the finger and bracket is stopped, and the finger rotates with the bracket during the remainder ofthe counter-clockwise rotation of-the shaft, the forward end of the finger moving upwardlyaway from the tongue 172. The sheet entering the throats defined by fingers 173 and tongues 172 at a high velocity is caused to move with the fingers 173 in their longitudinal movement, and the sheet is accordingly slowed down preparatory to advancing against'the usual drop guides, or front stops. It will be noted that the throatformed between the tongue 172" andthe slow down finger becomes'more constricted as the sheet advances into the throat. A thin sheet will advance farther into the throat than a thick er sheet, before it is almost stopped. Because of. this feature, the device will function with sheets of different thicknesses without adjustment. Not only do the fingers act to slow down the'sheet, but also to straighten it, and as strippers to prevent the forward edge: of the sheet moving up with the drop guides when they are raised.- Mechanism is provided tocontrol automatically the feeding of theink, for the pur ose of preventing an excess accumulation o ink on the rollers and form. This mechanism is illustrated in Figs. land 2.; Referring to these views, rigid on'the shaft 224 of the fountain roller is a ratchet 225 driven by a pawl 226 on a lever 227 which is pivoted on saidshaft. The ductor roll is carried by a lever 22813.." Levers 227-and 228 are oscillated in the operation of the press by any suitable mechanism. Extending across the back of the ink fountain and mounted in brackets secured to the fountain is a rock shaft 229, and rotatable on one end of this shaft is an arm 230 which extends under the fountain feed ratchet lever 227. When arm 230 is moved upwardly, its end is adapted to engage a pin 231 on lever-227 to prevent clockwise'movement of the lever andthereby interrupt the feeding ofthe ink. Rigid on shaft 229 is a short arm 232, and passing through an aperture in this arm and through a lug 233 on arm 1 230 is a pin 234 surrounded by a coil spring 235 which bears at its ends respectively against the arm 232 and the lug 233. This resilient connection between the shaft 229 and arm 230 permits the arm to yield when the shaft is rocked at a time whenthe pin 231 is located in the path of the arm. When this is the case the end of arm 230 strikes against the pin and yields to permit the pin to pass over its end, whereupon the arm will snap up to oppose the returnof the pin and lever. Fixed to the other end of shaft 229 is a elepending arm236 carrying a laterally projecting pin 237 which is normally engaged by the hook end of a link 238, the other end of which is pivoted to a depending arm of lever 210; This mechanism effects-an interruption Ofthe ink feeding when the impression is tripped, as will be understood from the foregoing description without-further explanation. It will be recalled that when double rolling, the impression is tripped at every other cycle of the press. It is of course not desired to interrupt the feeding of the ink at these times, as it is the object to give the form a double inking for each sheet. Therefore when the press is double rolling, the hook end of link 238 will be detached from arm 236.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed .as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a reciprocating pneumatic means for forwarding a sheet traversing the same path in its forward and return movements and pneumatic suction means associated with said first means for bringing the sheet withinthe field of action of the forwarding means.

2.111 a sheet feeding mechanism, in combination, a table for supporting a pile of sheets, reciprocating pneumatic means arranged over the pile 'operable to forward sheets, said means traversing the same path in its forward and return movements and re ciprocating means associated with the first means to take a sheet from the pile and carry the same into the field of action of said pneumatic means' 3. In a sheet feeding mechanism, in combination, a housing, reciprocating pneumatic means operating in said housing for forwardmg a sheet, and means for picking upand presentmgasheet to said pneumatic forwarding means and carried by sa\ .iousing.

n 'I 1 l 1. in a sheet feeding mechanism, in comforwarding means and carried by said housing.

5. In a sheetfeeding mechanism, in combination, a pneumatic means including a reciprocating suction plate for forwarding a sheet traversing the same path in both its forward and return movements, a suction tube, and means to reciprocate said tube to,

raise the top sheet of a pile into the field of action of said suction plate.

6. In a sheet feeding mechanism, in combination, reciprocating pneumatic means for forwarding a sheet, a second pneumatic means for bringing the top sheet of a pile, within the field of action of the first pneumatic means, and means for rendering saidsecond pneumatic means inoperative at the upper end of its stroke.

7., In a sheet feeding mechanism, in combination, a reciprocating intermittently acting suction means to forward a sheet, a slidingly mounted suction tube adapted to be moved into contact with thetop'sheet of a I pileto raise it within the field of action of the suction means, and means to reciprocate the tube in timed relation with the intermittent-1y acting suction means.

8. In a sheet feeding mechanism, in combination, a reciprocating intermittently acting suction means to forward a sheet, a slidingly mounted tube connected with the said suction means and adapted to be moved into contact with the-top sheet of a pile and raise it within the. field of action of the suction means, and means to reciprocate the tube in timed relation with the intermittently actiug suction means.

plate slidably mounted on the underside of the "housing over saidlongitudinal chamber and having an aperture communicating therewith, means for reciprocating said plate, a valve controlling the suction in said suction vchamber, and means for operating said valve in timed relation to the operation of said tube and plate.

10. A suction feeder for lifting sheets singly from a pile and advancing them, comprising a housing mounted over the forward edge of the pile, a valve block vertically reciprocable in the housing, a tube supported in. the valve block to reciprocate therewith,'said housing being formed with a suction chamber and said valve block having a slot communicating on one side with said suction chamber and on the other side with a slot through the wall of said tube, said housing having a longitudinal chamber opening through the bottom thereof, means for reciprocatingsaid valve block, said block in its upper position opening communication be- .tween said suction chamber and said longitudinal chamber, a plate slidably' mounted on the under side of the housing over said longitudlnal chamber and having an aperture communicatmg therewlth, means for reclprocating said plate, a valve controlling the suction in said suction chamber, and means for operating said valve in timed relation to the operation of said valve block and plate 11. A suction feeder for lifting sheets singly from a pile and advancing them, comprising a housing v formed with a vertical chamber opening through the top and with a longitudinal chamber at each side communicating with the vertical chamber and extending through the bottom of the housing to form elongated'slots,a valve block slidable in said vertical chamber formed with a longitudinal bore, a tube slidable in said bore and extending through a bore in the bottom of the housing, said tube being open at the bottom and closed at the top, a suction chamber in the housing opening through two ver-. tically spaced ports into said vertical chamber, a slot through saidvalve block communicating on one side with the upper of said ports and on the other side with a slot throu h the wall of said tube, .a stopon said'tu e engaging said valve block, a springholding said stop engaged with said block, a vertically adjustable stop adapted to limit the downward movement of said tube, means for reciprocating said Valve block, the lower end of said blbck uncovering the lower of said vertically spaced ports when the valve block is in its upper position to communicate suction to said longitudinal chambers, plates J slidably mounted on the under side of the housing over said elongated slots and having apertures communicating therewith, means for reciprocating said plates, a valve controlling the suction in said suction chamber, and means for operating said valve in timed rela tion to the operation of said valve block and plates.

19 A suction sheet feeder comprising a housing, a vertically reciprocating? suction device mounted in said housing for lifting sheets singly from a pile, and a longitudinal- 'ly reciprocating suction device 'mounted on the bottom of the housing for receiving the sheets from said vertically reciprocating device and advancing them, said longitudinally reciprocating device traversing the same path in both its forward and return movements.

13. A suction sheet feeder comprising a housing, a vertically reciprocating tube mounted in the housing and projecting from of the tube, and means for reciprocating said the bottom thereof, means for communicating suction to the interior ofthe tube, said housing beingformed with a chamber opening throughthe'bottom thereof a plate slidably mounted on the. bottom of the housing over the opening of said'chamberand having an aperture communicatingtherewith, means for communicating suction to said chamber when said tube is in its raised posi tion and cutting off suction to-the interior vplate, said plate being constrained to move in the same path in both'its forward and return movements.

14. Asuctio'n sheet feeder, comprising a vertically reciprocating tube adapted. to have suction, communicated thereto 'to lift sheets .sirigly. from. a pile, in combination with a longitudinally; reciprocating suction device adaptedto receive the sheets and advanoe them, comprisingia housing having a suction chamber openingthrough the bottom thereof, a plate mountedroverithe opening-of said chamber having an aperture communicating .therewith, and means for reciprocating the plate, saidplate beingconstrained to move turn movements. 1 j 3 15, Sheet feeding mechanism comprising .a blast .nozzle adapted to direct air blasts in the same path in both its forward and re against the frontedges of the top sheets of a pile, incombination with a housing mounted above the blast nozzle, a Vertically reciprocating-suction device mounted in said-housing for lifting sheets from the plle, and a, longitudinally reciprocating suction device mounted on. the bottom'of the housing for receiving'the sheets and advancing them, said in combination, a blastnozzle adapted to dilongitudinallyreciprocating device being constrainedto move in the same. path in both its forward and return movements.

- 16. Sheet feeding mechanism comprising rectair bla-sts againstthe front edges of the top sheetsof a pile, a housing mounted above,

the blast nozzle, a vertically reciprocating device mounted in said housing for," lifting sheets singly, a. sheet calipering device comprising a tongue cooperating with the top of said blast nozzle to forman adjustablethroat, and. a longitudinally reciprocating device mounted on the bottom of said housing for receiving the sheets and forwarding them through said throat. 3

17 Sheet feeding mechanism comprising,

i in combinatioma blast nozzle adapted' to direct air blasts against the front edges of the top sheets of apile, a housing mounted above the blast nozzle, a vertically reciprocating suction device mounted in, said housing for lifting sheets singly, a sheet calipering device comprising a tongue cooperatingvvith the top 'of said blast nozzle to form an adjustable throat, and a longitudinally reciprocating suction device mountedonthe bottom of'said housin operating said levers.

and project-in device mounte housing for receivinglthe sheets and forwarding themthrough said throat.

18. Incombination with a suction feeder comprising a housing and vertically and longitudinally reciprocating. sheet feeding devices mounted thereon, a sheet calipering device comprising-a finger pivoted at' the for- Ward part of the housing on a horizontal axis and cooperating with an opposed surface housing for adjusting said finger.

19; A suctionsheet feeder comprising in to form a throat, and a screw mounted on the combination, a housing, a verticallyreciprocable suction tube mounted in the housing and having its lowerend projecting from the bottom thereof, a longitudinally reciprocable suction plate-mounted on the bottom of the respectively, and cams 20; A suction sheet ,feederfcomprising at the side of saidtube, -leve rsfulcru'me' on said housing operably connected to said tube and plate housing,- a vertically! reciprocable suction 0 tube mounted in the of, a longitudinally reciprocable suction plate 'mounted on the bottom. of the housingat l the side of said tube, andmeans-for recipro eating said tube and plate.

21 -A suction sheetfeeder comprising,- in" using'and having its 1 lower end projecting from-the bottom therecombination, a'housin'g, a verticalliy reciprocab'le suction tube mounted in the housin sheets, in com ination with separator fingers mounted at the sides of the nozzle having upper extremities pro ecting over the front edge of the top sheet of the pile, andmeans for adjusting said.fingers.

23. In a sheet feeder, means for winding and separating the top sheets of apile, comof small superposed channels directed to de,

"through the bottom thereof,

p side of said tube, means for reciprocatingon the housing, in front of r prising a blast nozzle formed with a plurality liver jets of air' at an angle against the front edges of the sheets, in combination with separatorfingers pivotedat the sides of the nozzle and having upper extremities projectingoverthe front edge of'the top sheet of the pile, and 'meansfor adjusting said fingers.

' 24. In a sheet. feeder-,mans for winding' and separating the top sheets of a pile, comprising a blast nozzle formed with a plurality of small superposed'channels adapted to deliver jets of-air at anangle against the front edges of the sheets and formed with a relatively wide shallow channel above the small channels adapted to deliver a sheet-like jet, in combination with separator fingers having upper extremities projecting over the front -a downwardly extending tail, a rod rotatable in the nozzle and having a portion non-circular in cross section, the tails of said'fingers resting on said portion, and means for rotating said rod and fixing it in adjusted positions.

26. In a sheet feeder, means for winding .and separating the sheets of a pile, comprising a blast nozzle supported so as to direct .jets of air against the front edges of the top sheets, in combination with a separator finger pivoted at each side of the nozzle having an upper extremity projecting'over the front edge of the top of the pile and having a tail, a rod rotatable in the nozzle and projecting on the outside of the feeder, and means on the outside of the feeder for rotating the' rod and holding it in adjusted positions, said rod having non-circular portions on which the tails of said fingers rest.

27 In a sheet feeder, means for winding and separating the sheets of a pile, Comprising, in combination with ablast nozzle adapted to direct jets of air against the front edges of the top sheets,a separator finger pivoted at the side of the nozzle having an upper extremity projecting over the front edge of the top sheet of the pile, a rotatable rod having a non-circular portion on the edge of which the tail of said finger rests, and means on the outside of the feeder for rotating the rod and holding it in adjusted positions.

- 28. In a sheet feeder, a blast nozzle comprising a housing having a chamber which opens through the top and rear side adapted to be connected to a source of compressed air, a plate secured to the housing at th e rear side having its side edges beveled and fitting correspondingly inclined surfaces of the housing, said pla e having a plurality of slits inits beveled edges forming with the inclined surfaces of the housing small channels which communicate with said chamber, the top of said plate being cut away at the sides to form relatively wide shallow notches, and a cover for the housing extending'over the plate and forming with said notches channels,

.29. In a sheetfeeder, a blast nozzle com prising a housing having a chamber comprising diverging branches which open at the rear side of the housing, a plate secured to the housing at the rear side covering the openings of said branches, the side edges of the plate being beveled and fitting inclined surfaces of the housing, said beveled edges having a plurality of slits forming with the inclinedsurfaces of the housing, small channels communicating withsaid diverging branches, said channels being adapted to deliver angularly directed jets of air against the-edges of the sheets, the top of said plate being cut away at the sides to form relatively wide shallow notches, and a cover for the housing extending over the plate and forming with said notches channels adapted to deliver sheet-like jets over said small jets.

30. In a sheet feeder, a blast nozzle formed with a plurality of small superposed channels adapted to deliver "small jets of air against the front edges of the sheets and formed with a relatively wide shallow channel slightly spaced above the upper of said small channels adapted to deliver a sheet-like et.

31. In a sheet feeder, a blast nozzle formed with a plurality of small superposed channels at each side extending outwardly at an angle to the central vertical plane of the nozzle adapted to delix er small jets of air at an angle against the edges of the pile of sheets I member to said position, releasable means to hold said member in said position, and sheet detector mechanism controlling said releasablev means.

'33,' Sheet feeding means, comprising in eomblnation, a suction feeder, a valve adapted when open to render the feeder inoperativeto feed sheets, a member-to actuate said valve, releasable means operating directly to hold said valve open, and sheet detector mechanism adapted to release said means when a sheet is at the detector when due.

34. Sheet feeding mechanism, comprising in combination, a suction feeder, a valve adapted when open to render the feeder inoperative, an arm connected to said valve, a cam operating said arm, a latch engaging said arm to hold said valve open, a second arm adapted to release said latch, sheet detector mechanism controlling said second arm, and manual means .for holding said latch engaged with said valve arm.

35. Sheet feeding mechanism, comprising, in combination, a suction feeder, a valve adapted when open to render the feeder in-' operative, an arm connected to said valve, a 

